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How To Deal With The
Anti-Hunting Crowds
By Thomas K. Remington
 Tom Remington is an
outdoor writer and published author. He is
owner/administrator of
U.S. Hunting
Today and managing editor.
I
am reminded of a book
written by Ann Coulter, the flamboyant conservative who
certainly can ruffle the feathers of all liberals and
most moderates and raise an eyebrow or two on other
fellow conservatives with her cutting commentary, high
intellect and cut-to-the-chase approach in dealing with
subject matter that most people would try to tiptoe
around. The title the book I am reminded of is "How to
Talk To a Liberal, If You Must".
While I may not be suggesting that we as hunters should
deal with the anti-hunting crowds in the same fashion as
Ann Coulter would, I am saying we should deal in truth,
exposing the antis for what they are and what they
believe in, not be ashamed to be a hunter and never be
afraid of what might happen because we believe that
hunting is a valuable heritage worth saving.
History shows that in dealing with fanatics, and in the
case of some animal rights groups and anti-hunting and
anti-gun groups this is what we are up against, that any
sign of weakness or a division among normally allied
interests provides an opportunity for these
organizations to launch an attack.
In many
conversations, there is inevitably one or more
individuals who will choose the politically
correct route in order to not offend an anti. It
should be known that an anti is not going to
think you are a nice person and decide their
agenda is no longer worth a fight because you
chose to speak softly about hunting in an
attempt to paint a more "humane" picture of what
it is we do. This only serves to provide them a
chance to look for the jugular.
This isn't to say that we should pull the hammer
back and take no prisoners. The last thing we
need to do is act the way they do. I should
point out that even though many of these animal
rights, anti-hunting and anti-gun groups are
well funded, they are not in the majority in
their beliefs. |
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It is my belief that we
should emphasize science
when dealing with wildlife
management issues and
proudly hold our heads high
for the value that hunting
has brought to our
forefathers, ourselves and
hopefully our children to
come. We should not show
these groups and individuals
that we are willing to
compromise our heritage to
appease them and keep them
off our backs. I assure you
they will not quit nor go
away. We must be prepared at
all times to fight.
In the war against hunting,
the battles are small and
designed to chisel away at
whatever means they can find
to divide and conquer and
weaken the coalition of
hunters. Hunters and hunting
groups have commonly
disagreed on some aspects of
wildlife management, ethics
and just about every aspect
of our sport but ultimately
the common goal has remained
the same - save hunting and
make it better.
But there is a bit of stench
coming through the air that
has gone beyond what most of
us are accustomed to seeing
in dealing with our
differences. It is my hope
that these issues will only
prove to make our coalition
stronger in the end and not
weaken our resolve.
In Pennsylvania, the angry
United Sportsmen of
Pennsylvania group has filed
a lawsuit against the
Pennsylvania Game Commission
because they don't like the
way the deer herd there is
being managed. While anyone
and any group has the right
to conduct such an act,
everyone needs to make the
effort to address only the
issues at hand and not
destroy the strong coalition
of Pennsylvania hunters.
These are pretty drastic
measures taken by one
hunting group.
In Idaho and Oregon, the
governments there are
working to ban elk farming.
In Idaho, some are upset
over elk that escaped this
summer from a ranch. The
fear was for the spread of
disease and destruction of
the gene pool. Aside from
the fact that no domestic
elk in Idaho has ever tested
positive to CWD or
brucellosis, the fish and
game department, along with
some hunting clubs, have
called for eliminating elk
farming over fears that is
will destroy elk hunting.
This is an issue to be dealt
with by the citizens of that
state but it stands to set
further precedent for the
rest of us. The unfortunate
thing that has occurred and
one that I know hunting
clubs will someday regret,
is these hunting clubs have
teamed up the the Humane
Society of the United States
in order to ban elk farming.
These groups are jumping
into bed with the same
organization that wants to
shut them down.
The best way to deal with
the anti-hunting crowds is
not to join their side. One
can only think that those
fighting the elk farming in
Idaho have such a poor
opportunity to get what they
want they had to resort to
joining forces with one of
the biggest groups opposed
to hunting. This makes no
sense at all, none.
United we stand. Divided we
fall. |
